Context A growing epidemiological literature has suggested that marital discord is a risk
factor for morbidity and mortality. In addition, depression and stress are associated with
enhanced production of proinflammatory cytokines that influence a spectrum of conditions
associated with aging. Objective To assess how hostile marital behaviors modulate wound
healing, as well as local and systemic proinflammatory cytokine production. Design and
Setting Couples were admitted twice to a hospital research unit for 24 hours in a crossover …